Mission

The mission of V.O.I.C.E.S. is to provide a forum for public health students to reach out to their community by organizing and participating in volunteer community service projects with a public health focus.

V.O.I.C.E.S. strives to allow students to gain practical public health experience, interact with other students of similar interests, and incorporate social responsibility into their academic experience. V.O.I.C.E.S. enables the students of the Rutgers School of Public Health to have a positive impact on the community in which they live, both locally and globally.

Past Events:

2013-2014 V.O.I.C.E.S ProjectsIn Piscataway

Germ Workshop for Children at the New Brunswick Public Library (October)

Food Day Celebration: Showing of documentary “A Place at the Table”—October 23 with follow-up community discussion of food insecurity issues

Newark

Food Week (October): Partnered with Student Government Association to collect canned goods and donate to local area food bank;

Halloween Healthy Goody Bags (October/November): Collaborated with SPH SGA and School of Nursing to create healthy good bags for pediatric in/outpatients at University Hospital (bags were delivered in November instead of on Halloween due to Hurricane Sandy)

National Food Day (October): held potluck with SPH SGA in celebration of National/World Food Day; served healthy pizza to UMDNJ community in cafeteria on National Food Day, helping to raise awareness about sustainable food options

Bake sale (November): Sold baked goods and raised over $320 for Wynona’s House

Wynona’s’ House Christmas Activities (December): money was donated to Wynona’s House to help fund and support their Christmas party which provides clothing and toys to children who are unable to afford these items

2011-2012 V.O.I.C.E.S. Projects

Jamesburg Library in Freehold—workshop on “Healthy Snacks from Around the World” (July)

Liberty Science Center trip with children from the Somerset Home for Displaced Children (October)

This is Public Health presentation at Monroe Township High School (October)

Anti-bullying presentation at Brimm Medical Arts high School (October)

Soup Event/ DR Fundraiser (November)

A 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Event: Screening of the Award Winning Documentary “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” Featuring Guest Speaker: Dr. Vera Daniels of the Bassa Tribe in Liberia (December)

Holiday Wish List family of 9 (December)

Day of Service/ Elijah's Promise was really successful. Helped sort clothes given to needy families in New Brunswick. Sorted winter coats to be given to the homeless during Project Homeless Connect Day (January)

Valentine’s Day Sale for DR Health Outreach/Raised (February)

Gasland Documentary (March)

Samosa Sale/Midwest Tornado Relief (March)

Monroe Township High school presentation This is Public Health (March)

Habitat for Humanity—Asbury Park (March)

Blood Drive/American Red Cross (April)

Community Health Fair/Table on “Preparedness” in Lawnside April

Health Fair Pompton Lakes (May)

2010-2011 V.O.I.C.E.S. Projects

Habitat for Humanity/Asbury Park

Workshop on Nutrition—Transitions for Youth/SHIP Program/Rutgers

Backpack Drive

Workshop on HIV/AIDS/Center for Great Expectations/Somerset

Samosa Sale—Pakistan Relief Effort—Doctors Without Borders

Hot Chocolate Sale and Bake sale for DR Health Outreach Project

Global Health Awareness: Fistula Documentary A Walk to Beautiful

Halloween Party—Center for Great Expectations/Somerset

Holiday Gift Drive—New Brunswick families

Food Drive, Catholic Charities

Coat Drive, Hope Community Outreach Center/Camden

Day of Service—Martin Luther King Day/Volunteer Sites

Soup Sale Fundraiser for Youth

April 8, 2011 Student Team for Race for the Cure at Rutgers/New Brunswick

Samosa Sale—Japan Earthquake Relief/ American Red Cross

2009-2010 V.O.I.C.E.S Projects

Haitian Relief Effort/Bake Sale

Bowling for Soup-Striking Out Hunger

Melting Away Hunger

Holiday Gift Drive for the Homeless/Homefront

Giving Tree/DR Fundraiser

Sock Drive with partner HOPE

V.O.I.C.E.S. prepared dinner at Ronald McDonald House in New Brunswick

V.O.I.C.E.S. collected food for food pantry at Christ Episcopal Church in New Brunswick

V.O.I.C.E.S. prepared dinner for people who are homeless and staying at Christ Episcopal Church/ New Brunswick